110 Years for Montblanc

On the occasion of its 110th anniversary, Montblanc has released several interesting watches under its bestselling 4810 Collection. First presented in 2006 during its centennial celebrations, the 4810 collection is christened after the peak of the 4,810-m high Mont Blanc mountain that the brand was named after.

The collection respects all the codes of fine watchmaking, coalescing strong, elegant aesthetic veneers with sophisticated micro-mechanical innovations. This year, three in-house movements including a number of manufacture complications — Calibre MB 29.21 ExoTourbillon Stop-Second, Calibre MB LL100.1 TwinFly Chronograph and the Calibre MB 29.20 World Timer — grace the new collection. Each timepiece follows the strong and elegant design codes of the Maison and feature guilloché dials stamped with the prominent exploding Montblanc star motif, red gold Roman numerals and indexes, larger and bolder cases, and beautifully designed regate-shaped and skeleton hands.

Montblanc 4810 Exotourbillon Slim

Highlighting the 4810 collection is the Montblanc 4810 ExoTourbillon Slim watch, featuring the patented ExoTourbillon complication that has a quick stop-seconds mechanism for more accurate time-setting. This revolutionary tourbillon construction places the balance wheel outside of the tourbillon’s rotating cage, thus making it possible for the cage to be smaller in size and to consume less energy. Since the balance wheel is free from the cage’s inertia, it can also deliver better precision. Enabling the watch to retain its slim proportions is a brand new micro-rotor decorated with a Côtes de Genève en Eventail motif. Its presence also allows an uninterrupted view on the movement through the sapphire crystal case back.

There are also three limited edition iterations that were launched in honour of the brand’s 110th anniversary celebration, that are limited to only 110 pieces: North America (36), Europe (36) and Asia (38). These watches pay homage to the golden age of travel and show off miniature hand paintings of the maps of the North American, European or Asian continents on the dial. The lower section of the dial has been decorated with the Côtes de Genève motif to highlight the ExoTourbillon construction at six o’clock and a single rhodium-plated XII and skeletonised hands maximise the view of the map.

Montblanc 4810 Orbis Terrarum

Named after the Latin Orbis Terrarum, which translates into “globe”, “earth” and “world”, the Montblanc 4810 Orbis Terrarum intuitively tells the time in 24 time zones. The dial features a sapphire crystal disc, which displays the continents as viewed from the North Pole and the names of the 24 cities representing the different time zones, with red-lettering for the cities of Hamburg, London and New York, in homage to the legendary ports that were significant in the history of travel crossing the Atlantic ocean over a century ago. Encased elegantly in a 43-mm stainless steel case and water-resistant up to 50m, the elegant timepiece is complemented with its exquisite alternative pocket watch edition. The latter is set in a 53-mm stainless steel case and bears a distinctive stainless steel chain strongly reminiscent of the nautical ropes used in seafaring. Engraved with the overseas liner and Blue Riband winner “Deutschland” on the back, this horological objet d’art is limited to 110 pieces, in honour of this year’s 110th anniversary celebrations.

Montblanc 4810 Twinfly Chronograph 110 Years Edition

Finally, the third watch in the 4810 collection to fete the brand’s milestone this year is the Twinfly Chronograph 110 years edition. Powered by the Calibre MB LL100.1 that has been developed and assembled entirely in-house, the watch has both a monopusher chronograph, centre-mounted elapsed-minutes hand and a dual time indication via an additional central hand. A subdial located at 12 o’clock shows a world map that reveals whether it is day or night in the home time.

The paragon of functionality, affordability, technical supererogation and aesthetic appeal, the line of watches reinforces the 4810 Collection as the highest level of achievement and quality in haute horlogerie, and reiterates the Maison’s pioneering spirit since 1906.